|
|
  Fishin' with Capt. Gus! ~ Murphy’s Law
February 24, 2008
Has this ever happened to you? The knot at the end of your fishing line becomes untied and your possible trophy swims away. Better yet, the reel backlashes while a school of stripers are slashing at millions of shad on the surface around your boat. Are such situations merely bad luck, or are they examples of the phenomenon known as Murphy’s Law? Regardless of the reason, unfortunate and unexplainable events do occur from time to time, particularly, it seems, when boating and fishing. Over time, these events become fodder for tall tales, funny stories and a lifetime of memories. Below are other examples of Murphy’s unexplainable law.
It never fails that when fishing is slow and you haven’t had a nibble in hours, or a bite for yourself, you will lean your rod against the gunwale of the boat to eat a sandwich. Just as you take the first bite, a big fish yanks the rod overboard! Was this poor timing or was it an example of Murphy’s Law - that ended in a lost fishing rod and a soggy sandwich? Another disaster that occurs all too frequently is when someone tries to move or lift a tackle box. The lid flips open and the contents scatter everywhere. Choice words are often spoken when this happens. Was the lid left unlatched or was it Murphy’s Law again in action?
There are occasions when a hooked fish gets away. Just the other day, an angler was posing for a picture with his prize when the fish wiggled from his hand and flopped back into the water. As Murphy’s Law would have it, not only did he lose the biggest fish of his life, but the picture didn’t take either. How about the proud angler with a twelve-pound bass swimming in his live well? When he opened the lid to show it off, the fish jumped from the box and landed back in the lake. Murphy did it again. No fish, no picture, no trophy.
Have you ever tried to teach someone how to throw a cast net and the net won’t open? Have you ever boasted about how well you can run a boat and forget to untie the lines when you leave the dock? Being the good mariner that you are, how many times have you banged the boat against the dock because your approach was either off course or the boat was moving too fast?
Thank goodness for Murphy. If it were not for his law we would have to take the blame for all our mistakes.
Tips from Capt Gus:
To temporarily prevent the fraying of guide windings, apply clear nail polish. Various colors of nail polish can also be used (while fishing) to quickly change the appearance of a lure.
Upcoming Events:
A seminar on “How to Catch LKN Pan Fish” will be held at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 in Mooresville, NC at 6:30 P.M. on Tuesday March 11, 2008. This two-hour free session will focus on the “how to’s” of catching bream, white perch and catfish. This class, conducted by fishing guide Mac Byrum, Capt. Craig Price and myself, is designed for children and adults.
Mitchell Community College in Mooresville is offering a new course entitled “Choosing the Right Fishing Boat.” This two-hour session will help you decide which type of boat and accessories will best serve your fishing needs. The class will be on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at 6:30 P.M. For more information, call 704 663 1923.
On Thursday, March 20, 2008 Light House Marine Services will offer an instructional boating course entitled “How to Safely Navigate Lake Norman.” Topics will include understanding LKN’s marker and buoy system, identifying and learning to avoid the ten most dangerous shoals, and how to use and interpret lake maps. The registration fee for the three-hour class is $25.00. The class begins at 6:00 P.M. at Gander Mountain, Exit 36 Mooresville, NC. To register, or for more information, call Lt. Scott Spivey – 704 587 0325 or visit www.lmservice.org.
The Hot Spot of the week continues to be the main river channel between Markers 13 and 17B. Stripers are hitting a combination of live baits and artificial lures. Bass fish are holding close to cover along the deeper banks and in both hot holes.
The lake level is 95.1 or 4.9 ' below full pond. Water surface temperature is in the upper forties and low fifties.
Captain Gus Gustafson of Lake Norman Ventures, Inc. is an outdoor columnist and a full time professional fishing guide on Lake Norman, NC. Visit his web site, Fishin' With Gus! at www.FishingWithGus.com or call 704-617-6812.
For additional information e-mail Gus at Gus@LakeNorman.com
|
|
|
|
|
